Chipper names son after Shea Stadium
August 30, 2004 -
So fond of Shea Stadium where the fans heckle him, the Atlanta star named his new son after the New York Mets' ballpark Monday -- Shea Logan Jones. "I love playing there," Jones said. "Check the numbers."
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| GM | HR | RBI | R | SB | AVG |
| 106 | 25 | 73 | 52 | 1 | .253 |
| Chipper's career stats at Shea Stadium. |
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Jones was with his wife, Sharon, for the birth of their second child Monday. He made it back to Turner Field by the fifth inning, and struck out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning of a 7-6 win over San Francisco.
The couple had planned to name the child Shea whether it was a boy or girl, Jones said. Shea Logan measured 21 inches and weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces. He joins Larry Wayne III, who's 4. Chipper also has another son, Matthew, who's 6, from a previous relationship.
Jones is not the only big leaguer to salute Shea in a special way. Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin, who also enjoys playing in New York, named his daughter Brielle D'Shea.
During the height of the Mets-Braves rivalry in the late 1990s, Mets fans taunted Jones with singsong chants of "Lar-ry, Lar-ry" -- his real name. Jones still hears it from Mets fans, though the booing has not stopped the All-Star's production at the plate.
Floyd hurt, Heilman shaky in loss
August 23, 2004 - Mike Cameron set the club record for home runs by a center fielder, but Aaron Heilman was knocked out in the fourth inning and Cliff Floyd left with a bruised elbow in a 9-4 loss to the San Diego Padres on Monday night.
Mets slowed by Giants rookie
August 21, 2004 - The Mets fell to the Giants, 7-3, Friday night at SBC Park, as starter Steve Trachsel gave up six runs (four earned) in four innings and Giants rookie Noah Lowry struck out 10 Mets.
Zambrano injury not a new one
August 19, 2004 - The confusion surrounding the latest setback suffered by Mets pitcher Victor Zambrano was cleared up on Thursday. Though Zambrano was placed on the disabled list and is experiencing pain in his right elbow, a contrast MRI taken of the affected area revealed that the problem is the same one that he was experiencing with Tampa Bay and not a new affliction.
Mets lose Zambrano, series opener
August 17, 2004 - The Mets knew that Victor Zambrano was suffering from a case of flexor tendinitis when they acquired him last month from Tampa Bay. Until Tuesday, however, Zambrano's cranky right elbow was not an issue.
But when Zambrano walked off the Coors Field mound after going just 1 2/3 innings against the Rockies, his elbow became a major issue. Officially, Zambrano has inflammation, enough that he is out for his next start. He will return to New York on Wednesday to get examined by team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito.
The Mets wouldn't say how serious the matter was until Rokito makes a diagnosis. Zambrano, however, was clearly confused and scared as he spoke to the media after the game. He said he has been dealing with the discomfort in his elbow for a while but didn't speak up until the pain became unbearable Tuesday night.
Matsui lands on DL
August 15, 2004 - Beset with injuries all season long, particularly to their star players, the Mets suffered another setback Sunday, when shortstop Kaz Matsui was placed on the 15-day disabled list with lingering back spasms.
Stress fracture sidelines Mets' Reyes
August 13, 2004 - After missing the first two and a half months of the season, Jose Reyes finds himself back on the disabled list with a leg injury. He hopes to return to action this year.
Mets' Reyes hobbled by new injury
August 12, 2004 - Jose Reyes hobbled into the Mets' clubhouse shortly before 10 a.m. on Thursday, an air cast hugging his left ankle. How long this latest setback will keep Reyes out of action remains a mystery.
Glavine out at least one more start
August 12, 2004 - Tom Glavine won't pitch again for the Mets until at least Aug. 21 while he recovers from injuries sustained in an traffic accident Tuesday afternoon in New York.
Zambrano brilliant in Shea debut
August 12, 2004 - Victor Zambrano retired the first 14 batters he faced Thursday, allowing an unearned run in seven innings, as the Mets took two of three from the Astros.
Glavine involved in traffic accident
August 10, 2004 - New York Mets starting pitcher Tom Glavine received stitches in his lower lip and lost two teeth in a traffic accident Tuesday afternoon, forcing him to miss his scheduled start Wednesday against the Houston Astros.
The Mets have tabbed right-hander Matt Ginter to make the start, opposing right-hander Roy Oswalt.
Glavine called the Mets at about 2:15 p.m. ET to say that he was bleeding after suffering injuries to his mouth area after the taxi he was riding in was involved in an accident with a sport utility vehicle on the Grand Central Parkway.
Alarmed by the first reports of Glavine's mishap, his teammates were calmed upon learning the extent of his injuries. Shortly thereafter, the Mets went out and downed the Astros, 7-3, at Shea Stadium.
After going seven innings against Houston for his 10th victory of the season, Steve Trachsel said, "We heard all these stories floating around. Once we heard it was not that serious, we felt better about going out and playing the game."
Glavine, who spent the Mets' off day Monday at his Atlanta-area home, had flown into LaGuardia International Airport and hailed a yellow cab from the airport to Shea Stadium when the mishap occurred.
The New York Police Department and the Port Authority police responded to the accident, and Glavine was taken by ambulance to New York University Medical Center in Manhattan, where he was immediately evaluated by the hospital's trauma unit.
Glavine was then seen by Mets team oral surgeon Dr. Robert Glickman, who administered stitch work on Glavine's lower lip and performed the necessary clean-up work on the front of the pitcher's mouth.
"There's nothing you can really do about it," Mets manager Art Howe said. "We're just thankful it wasn't worse. We were praying it wasn't anything life-threatening.
In 24 starts for New York this season, Glavine is 8-10 with a 2.92 ERA.
Voice of the Mets passes away
Bob Murphy, who called more than 6,000 Mets games, is one of 28 broadcasters in the Hall of Fame.Murphy had a style and ease behind the microphone, one that made baseball on the radio enjoyable for generations of fans. He sat in the broadcast booth for a half-century, beginning his career in 1954, describing the exploits of Ted Williams to the Red Sox Nation. He ended it after last season, having spent more than four decades calling games for the Mets, providing all those happy recaps for fans as they drove home from the park.
Murphy was as much a part of Mets baseball as any of the players who have worn the blue and orange since 1962. Murphy was a friend on air, calling games in a simple, yet classic manner that earned him a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown in 1994 as the winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting contributions to the game.
Murphy called his last game for the Mets on Sept. 25, 2003, the night he was honored at Shea Stadium for his long and outstanding service. He and longtime broadcast partners Lindsey Nelson and Ralph Kiner were inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 1984. The radio booth at Shea Stadium bears Murphy's name while the television booth bears Kiner's.
Mets' Wright adjusting to life in Majors
August 2, 2004 - Less than two weeks into his Major League career, David Wright has displayed a tireless work ethic as he fine-tunes his game, and appreciates the support of his teammates.
